Lottery:

A lottery is a gambling game in which people pay a small sum of money for the chance to win big prizes. There are many kinds of lotteries, including military conscription, commercial promotions, and the selection of jurors from lists of registered voters.

Origins of Lotteries

The earliest known lotteries were held during the Roman Empire, with each ticket holder receiving a prize of some kind. They were a popular form of entertainment for wealthy noblemen during the Saturnalian celebrations.

Often, the lottery was used to give away property or slaves. But it was also used to raise funds for the city.

Players usually spend $1 or $2 on a ticket, which contains a set of numbers that will be drawn at some future date. If the numbers match, you win some of what you spent on the ticket; the rest goes to the state or city that runs the lottery.

In the United States, the largest lottery is The Powerball. It draws its tickets every Friday and Tuesday. Its jackpot is currently $1.537 billion.